Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-07
ashe uMicnita Dailn Ean1e T1inrs1.
THE NOTED DEAD OF 1886.

DeS GO:nes Register
The past year has been marked by an
unusually large number of deaths among
prominent men. Each year an army Of
the living join the silent company of the
departed, but usually their places are
quickly filled and save the little circle of
personal friends their absence is soon for
gotten This is great world, aud it can
spare a great many of its leaders, and still
move Oh serenely with dignity and strength.
Men who tower like giants above their fel-
lows drop out of sight and other men rise
up to take their places. There
comes last day" for the honored and
the great as well as for the lowly and
weak The death roll of the year brings
one lesson if it teaches the frailty Of hui
mainly. the brevity of life and the empti-
ness of fame in the presence of death.
Death has found many shining marks in
the past year, especially among men in po-
litical life 1t has taken from this country
one ex-president of the United States, three
unsuccessful candidates for the presidency,
one unsuccessful candidate for the vice
presidency The cour;ly and polished
Arthur, Horatio Seymour the sage and
philosopher of the Democratic party, the
astute and far sighted Tilden, the brave and
gallant Hancock, the wise and learned
Davis, the greatest volunteer general OF
the war, John A. Logan. have passed
away with the year. Besides these,
Senator Pike of New Hampshire, Senator
John +. Miller of California, ex-senator
jerome 3. Chaffee of Colorado, ex Senator
David r. Atchison Of Missouri, for many
wears before the war prominent leader of
| the pro-slavery forces. John Kelly Of
New York, the leader of Tammany hall,
Hubert 0. Thompson of New York, tie
leader of the county Democracy, Hon. Jno.
Welch, ex-minister to Great Britain, Gen.
Durbin Ward, one of the foremost figures
of Ohio politics, and the venerable Charles
Francis Adams, son and grandson of a
president of the United States, have left
the field of political strife for the repose Of
the tomb.
Among the noted writers and speakers
who died during the year are John b.
Cough. the prince of Temperance orators;
Leopold Van Ranke, the German historian;
e. p Whipple, the essayist and critic;
Paul II. Hayne, the Southern poet; Col.
Edward Z. G. Judson, who has written so
many interesting tales under the nom de
plume of Ned Buntline;" Erastus Brooks,
the veteran journalist, and Mrs. Ann S.
Stephens, the novelist.
The dead of the year claim many others
who have filled large places in the world,
and have achieved great prominence III
their respective lines of work. Among
these is H. NJ Hoxie, one Of the command
ing railroad men of the day; Hobart
Pasha, the famous English officer
who rose to such great distinction
in the service of the Sultan;
the beloved and eccentric Able List, the
great pianoist and composer, Dr. Dio
Lewis, the famous apostle of hygiene, and
Right Hon. William E. Forster the last
chief secretary for Ireland, who believed
that coercion was more potent in settling
Irish troubles than coGciliation
The death roll of 1886 bears the names
of many great and powerful people. But
it carries rs well the mute reminders Of
grief to thousand Of stricken families
whose dead ones may not have been great
as the world measures greatness, but they
were good and kind and true to those who
loved them.
Its the wink of an eye, It's the draught of
breath,
From the blossom of health to the paleness Of
death.
From the giided saloon to the bier and the
shrOud-
o, why should the spirit of mortal be proud"